Fireplace screen



April 16, 1968 w. E. SCHERER FIREPLACE SCREEN Filed May :5, 1966INVENTOR Wallace Earl Scherer FIG.4.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,373,003 FRREFLACE SCREEN Wallace Earlfieherer, 87% Brawner Drive, Richmond, V a. 2322? Filed May 3, 1966,Ser. No. 547,265 1 Claim. (Cl. 126-292) ABSTRACT OF TEE DESCLDSURE Aremoveable fireplace screen consisting of two mounting elements eachhaving a threaded sleeve integral therewith. A single rod engages thesleeves and is turnable to force the elements apart for frictionalengagement with confronting vertical surfaces of a fireplace opening.The mounting elements journal between them a roller bearing a screen ofheat-proof material and which, when desired, may be drawn downwardly toobturate the fireplace opening.

This invention relates to a screen or curtain intended more particularlyfor use in the room opening of a fireplace.

Portable or permanently installed fire screens are commonly used inconnection with fireplaces. In the portable type the screen is usuallyformed in sections hingedly connected together. The device is set asidewhile building a fire and returned to place across the room openingafter the fire is started. In a permanently-installed type the screenconsists of a curtain of interconnected open links or meshes. Usuallythere are two discrete sections both of which are supported along theirtop edges by a rod emplaced horizontally at and across the top of thefireplace opening. The sections are supported from the rod at and alongtheir top edges, by means of loops slidable along the rod. To build afire the screen sections are shoved apart in opposite directions toexpose the opening, and returned to closed or drawn position after thefire has been started.

The basic purpose of all screens is to prevent sparks and burning embersfrom popping out into the room and damaging rugs, carpets, clothing, orfrom starting a confiagration when the fire is left unattended. Asecondary purpose is to adorn the room opening and to conceal ashes,unburned fuel, and blackened walls and anirons when no fire is present.

However, all screens commonly in use have the disadvantages that theyare easily displaced, fail to afford complete protection againstemission of sparks and burn ing embers, and even when properly placed donot fully obscure ashes, unburned fuel, blackened wall, etc., when nofire is extant. Furthermore, with extended use the screens themselvesbecome blackened and unattractive, thus defeating one of their chiefpurposes. With such screens, complete safety can only be assured bycomplete dousing of the fire when it is to be left unattended.

It is the chief purpose and object of the present invention to provide afireplace screen or curtain which, while readily emplaced and adapted toall sizes of fireplace openings, is firmly but releasably held inproperly emplaced position within the room opening of the fireplace.

Another object is to provide a fireplace screen or curtain which, whenfully drawn, affords complete protection against the projection ofsparks and burning embers into the room and may by thus safely leftunattended without putting out the fire.

Still another object is to provide a curtain or screen of the typeaforesaid, which when rolled, is not affected by heat from the fireplaceand which, when drawn, is clean, ornamental, pleasing in appearance, andcompletely obscures ashes, unburned fuel, and the generally unsightly3,378,119? Patented Apr. 16, 1968 ice appearance which the interior ofall fireplaces eventually acquire.

Yet another object is to provide a curtain which may effectivelyobturate the fireplace room opening, thus preventing loss up the chimneyof heat from other sources when the fireplace is not in use, conservingfuel, and preventing drafts, as when the fireplace damper must be leftopen after the fire is no longer desired but before it has completelygone out. Ancillary to the foregoing, the obturation of the fireplaceopening diminishes the supply of fresh air and thus hastensextinguishment of the fire after it is no longer desired.

Another object is to provide a screen or curtain of the type aforesaid,which is relatively simple and inexpensive to construct and service, orindefinite life, and a general advance in the art.

Other objects and advantages will be obvious to those skilled in theart, after a study of the following detailed description, in connectionwith the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing a fireplace equipped with theinvention and with the curtain drawn to obscure the opening;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view to an enlarged scale, of the assembleddevice ready for installation;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view to a still further enlarged scale, and partly insection, of the assembled device;

FIGURE 4 is a cross section taken in a plane indicated byline 44, FIGURE3; and

FIGURE 5 is a detail perspective view of a portion of a modified form ofthe invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing, F, FIGURE 1, shows a fireplaceequipped with the invention generally identified at 1. The screen orcurtain is shown drawn. At FIGURE 2, 2 and 3 identify essentiallyallochirally duplicate hollow boxlike end members whose edges may beserrated as indicated at 4, to provide a better grip upon the bricks orother material of the fireplace opening. The end members each include anintegral hollow threaded collar, that for item 2 being identified at 5,and that for item 3 at 6. One collar is internally threaded withright-hand threads, the other with left-hand threads. The threads may beof the same pitch.

A rod 7 is correspondingly threaded at its ends to that when engagedwith the threaded collars and turned in one direction, as by graspingthe central enlargement 8 integrally connected with the rod, or applyinga wrench thereto, the end members are separated; and when turned in theother direction, are brought closer together. The overall length of theassembled rod and end members when the parts are substantially in thepositions shown upon FIGURE 3, is a little less than the width of thefireplace opening. Hence, when positioned within and at the top of theopening, and rod 7 is turned in the proper direction, the end membersare separated and forced into contact with the fireplace surfaces andthe assembly is firmly fixed within the opening, with rod 7 horizontaland adjacent to the top of the opening.

A spring roller 9 of metal or other heat-resisting material, is normallyjournaled by and between end members 3 and Although for clarity ofillustration, FIGURES 2 and 3 show this roller below rod 7, in actualuse, the end members are preferably, but not necessarily, disposed andcollocated so that their longitudinal axes are parallel and in a commonhorizontal plane, with the roller in front. Of course it is oneadvantage of my inventio i that the end members may be so located thatthe common plane of the axes may be inclined at any angle betweenhorizontal and vertical.

At one end, roller 9 has the usual pivot pin 10, journaled in a hole inthe end of member At its other end the roller is provided with a fiattrunnion 11 connected in the usual way with one end of the coil spring,not shown, within the roller. If desired the roller may also be providedwith the conventional centrifugally-operated release latch. As shownupon FIGURE 4, this trunnion fits a rectangular opening 12 in end member3 and is thereby prevented from turning.

A screen or curtain 13 is of flexible non-combustible, heat-resistantmaterial such as woven fiberglass, asbestos fiber, fine metal wire orhigh-temperature plastic in Woven or sheet form. The screen is attachedalong its top edge to roller 9. Its lower edge is secured to and about asmall tube of metal. The ends of this tube are open and a rod such as14, FIGURES 2 and 3, having an enlarged friction head 15 attached to itsouter end, is mounted within the tube for axial sliding therealong.Likewise, the other end of the tube has a second rod 16 slidabletherein, with attached friction head 17. Springs, not shown, mountedwithin the tube urge the rods axially apart. These may take the form ofcoil springs each surrounding its respective rod within the tube andabutting at one end, a collar fixed to the rod and at the other end anabutment within the tube and fixed therewith. Alternatively a singlespring may be used urging the rods apart at their ends adjacent thecenter of the tube.

These inner ends carry respective finger pieces 18, 19, FIGURES 2 and 3,which project through apertures in the tube and curtain so that they maybe grasped and pressed together. The construction and arrangement aresuch that when the device is mounted within a fireplace and fingerpieces18, 19 are released, the friction heads 15 and 17 are urged intoengagement with the bricks or other material of the fireplace openingand thus act to releasably hold the curtain in any position to which ithas been drawn or lowered. FIGURE 1 shows the curtain fully lowered, inwhich position it practically completely obturates the fireplaceopening.

The installation and operation of the invention will be clear from theforegoing description and is briefly resumed as follows: Rod 7 is turnedto drawn the end members 3, 4 together so that they slip easily into thefireplace opening with small clearance. The members are held in desiredposition at the top of the opening, with the rod horizontal. The rod isthen turned to force the members apart until their serrated or frictionedges firmly grip the bricks or other material lining the opening.

When a fire is to be built, fingerpieces .18, 19 are pressed together toretract and release friction heads 15', 17, following which the curtainis allowed to rise to its position fully Wound on roller 9, in whichposition the fireplace is essentially completely open. After the fire isno longer desired or when no fire is present, the curtain is drawn downto the position shown upon FIGURE 1 and held in this position byfriction heads 15, 17, to thus completely obturate the opening, preventsparks from flying out into the room, prevent loss of room heat up thechimney, obscure ashes and unburned fuel, blackened walls, etc., andprovide an ornamental closure of the opening. In this latter regard itwill be understood that the curtain may have its outwardly-facingsurface ornamented with any design or emblem and in colors, by printing,painting or other process.

While I have described the construction and arrangement of partspresently preferred by me, numerous changes of shape, form, dispositionand relations of parts will be obvious to those skilled in the art,after a study of the foregoing disclosure. In one modification shown atFIG- URE 5, two rollers 9a and 9b, both constructed as described, may belocated between two end members one of which is identified at 3a. Theserollers are preferably one behind the other as shown and with their axesin a common horizontal plane. The rear or first roller 9a may mount ascreen 13a such as fiberglass, of open mesh similar in size to that ofan ordinary firescreen, While the second or forward roller 91: may mounta closely-woven opaque screen 13b of like material. During use of thefire- 4 place, the first screen only will be lowered and will thusenable the emission of heat and provide view of the flames, whilepreventing sparks and burning embers from being thrown into the room.When the fireplace is no longer to be used, the first screen may beraised and the second drawn downwardly to obturate the opening, with allthe attendant advantages previously described. Of course, as analternative use, the first screen may be left down, thus protecting thesecond or ornamental curtain. It is also contemplated that the rollersmay be journaled in lugs integral with but laterally offset outwardlyfrom the respective end members 2, 3, so that the edges of the curtainor screen, when drawn, are almost in contact with the walls of thefireplace opening. It is also contemplated that end member 3 may beprovided with a slot opening into the aperture for pivot 11, so that theroller may be emplaced after the ends caps 2 and 3 have been fixedlylocated within the fireplace opening.

Thus the disclosure is to be taken in an illustrative rather than alimiting sense; and all modifications, substitutions of equivalents andmaterials, alteration, and

rather than a limiting sense; and all modifications, subjoined claim,are reserved.

Having fully disclosed the invention, What I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. In a screen for detachable connection with the confronting side wallsof a fireplace opening, first and second wall-engaging members, eachcomprising a hollow boxlike structure having bottom, side, and endWalls, and an open top, the free edges of said Walls defining an opentop lying essentially in a first plane, said edges being adapted forfrictional engagement with the Walls of a fireplace opening, the bottomwall of each said member being parallel with said first plane, first andsecond hollow internally-threaded sleeves each integrally connected atone end with a respective one of said bot-tom walls, and having itscentral axis normal to said first plane thereof, said sleeves havingthreads of opposite hand, a rod having its ends threaded with threads ofopposite hand, each adapted to threadedly engage within a respective oneof said sleeves to vary the separation of said members by and inresponse to turning of said rod, there being first and second alignedapertures in each respective one of the bottom walls of said members, inoffset relation With the sleeve thereof, a roller having aligned trunnions projecting from respective ends thereof each adapted to fit arespective one of said apertures to journal said roller horizontally byand between said members, in olfset parallel relation with said rod, aflexible screen of heat-resistant material having its top edge securedto and along said roller throughout the length thereof, and adapted tobe drawn downwardly to obturate a fireplace opening when said wallengaging members are forced apart by rotation of said rod, to engage thefree edges thereof with the opposed walls of the fireplace opening, asecond roller journaled between the bottom Walls of said end members incontiguous parallel coextensive relation with said first roller, saidsecond roller being spring-wound, a second screen secured along one edgeto and windable upon said second roller, said second screen being offlexible fire-resistant material, one said screen being of open mesh,the other said screen being opaque and impervious to smoke and flame.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,759,619 5/1930 Hutchinson126-202 2,015,485 9/1935 Lindberg 126202 2,803,241 8/1957 Capla 126-2022,941,591 6/1960 Meyer 126--202 X 3,153,256 10/1964 Stark et al. .Q126202 X FREDERICK L. MATIESON, 1a., Examiner. E. G. FAVORS, AssistantExaminer.

